Stick-turning mechanism



Jan., W, ZS. EMMMMH L. m. www

STICK, TURNING MECHANI Siu-l Filed 0G13. l5, 1925 L; @f @d M l il lil

Patented Jan. 1Q, 1928..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LYNCH B. CASE, OF HGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN WALDRN CORN ITtATIN, F NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STICK-TURNING MEGHANISI.

Application filed October 15, 1925. Serial I0. 62,565.

'lhe invention relates to mechanisms for automatically turning` the sticks of conveyors oit the type used tor carrying' testooning lines oit tabric througl'i drying chambers. llt is desirable in conveyors ot this type to slightly rotate the sticks troni tinie to time so as to bring` the sticks into engagement with diliierent portions ol the fabric. It the sticks were not turned during drying, the fabric might adhere to the sticks or inight be otherwise deti'inientally atlected in 'texture `or in appearance. By tnrninl the sticks iroin time to time no one portieri of the Yliabric remains in contact longl enough to be injured.

Une ot the objects of the invention is to provide a very siinple and inexpensive nieclianisin itor this purpose which operates lrictionally and which is adapted to engage sticks which are round at theirI ends instead oi beingl latted.

another object oit the invention is to provide a mechanism which is readily adjustable to change the amount oit turning of the successive sticks. i

nOther objects o't the invention will be iully ajjnoarent troni the following specilication and claims.

ln the accompanying drawing, I have shown the embodiment of the invention which ll now deein preferable, but it will be understood that the drawing' is for the purpose ot illustration only and that various changes and substitutions may be inade Within the scope of the claims Without departing; 'troni the spirit of the invention.

*Ut the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational vievv of one of the mechanisms embodying the invention, this view being` taken transversely of the conveyer and being partly in sect-ion along` the line l'l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational vievv looking at the right hand side oit the mechanisin as viewed in Fig. 1, this view being artly in section along the line 2-2 of 'Eliau 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents one of the two parallel conveyor chains Which carry a series of transverse sticks 2, 2 approniniately uniformly spaced. Festoons oit material to be dried are looped over the successive sticks 2, 2 and are thus carried through a drying chamber. The sticks 2, 2

are preferably round througlfiout so that they may be readily turned.

Each chain 1 is supported by a guide rail 3 which in turn is carried by a supporting rail d, preferably in the torni oit' an anale bar. Preferably there is also a supplenien tary rail 5 adjacent cach guide rail 3 and parallel therewith. This rail 5 is adapt-ed to hunt endwise movement ol the sticks 2, and as shown it is in the torni ol a channel bar.

For the purpose oit turning the successive sticks 2, 2 as they pass a given position, l provide two friction blocks (i ot which one is shown in the drawing. These blocks are above the path or travel ol the sticks and are so located that their bottoin surtaces will rictionally engage the tops cil the successive sticks to rotate them as the said sticks are bodily moved by the chain. Preferably as shown each block is positioned vertically above the corresponding chain, but it will be understood `that this enact location is not essential.

Each of the blocks is preferably adjust able so as to change the length oii the en gagement between the block and the successive sticks so that the amount ol rotation ol the sticks may be correspondingly changed. In order that the blocks may be properly supported, and also in order that they inay be adjusted 'for the purpose described and for other purposes, a block supporting mechanism is provided which is prel'erably constructed as shown in the drawing. It will be understood that the supporting mechanisms for the tivo blocks are identical, except for being right and left.

As shovvn, there is a base bracket 'l' which is carried by the angle bar 4, beingi held in place by means oil a set screw 8 and tivo cap screws 9, 9. vertically adjustable on the base bracket 7 is a inain bracket 10, which is held in place by cap screws 11, 11 entending through slots 12, 12 in the bracket 10. Screws 13, 13 are preferably also provided by eiecting vertical adjustment on the bracket when the cap screws 11, 11 have been slight-ly loosened.

Carried by the bracket l0 is a plate la which is preferably vertically adjustable as shown. The bracket carries two cap screws 15, 15 Which project through vertical slots 16, 16 in the plate 14. It will be oh served that the plate 14: is located Well be- Uli yond the ends of the sticks 2, 2 and outside of the rail 5.

Projecting inward from the plate 14 are two parallel rods 17 and 18, these being held in place in the plate 14 by means of set screws 19. Carried by the two rods 17 and 18 is a block carrier 2O to which the f iction block 6 is secured in any preferred or suitable manner. Preferably the carrier 20 is pivotally supported on one of the rods, that is upon the rod which is in the rearward position taking into account the direction of travel of the chain and the sticks, in this case the rod `17. The carrier is provided with a slot 21thr0ugh which the other rod 18 extends. The carrier 2O is held in the proper position on the rods 17 and 18 by means of washers 22, 22 and cotter pins 23, 23.

Preferably, adjustable means is provided for limiting the movement of the carrier 2O and asillustrated this means comprises a screw 24 which is adapted to project into the slot-21 and to engage the top of the red 18. The screw 24 is provided with a lock n ut 25.

In operation the mechanism is so adjusted that the block 6 is properly located with respect to the chain and the sticks, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. As shown in this figure, one of the sticks is ust coming into engagement with the bottom surface of the block 6, and it will be observed that as the motion of the chain continues the frictionai engagement between the outer surface of the stick and the bottom surface of the block will cause the stick to lbe turned in the counter-clockwise direction. The block 6 and its carrier will be swung upward about the rod 17 as each stick asses under, the weight of the block and t ie carrier being sufficient to provide the required frictional engagement.

The length of the frictional engagement and, therefore, the amount of the rotation of the successive sticks can be changed either by changing the initial angle of the block 6 and the carrier 20 or by slightly adjusting these parts vertically or by doing both. The initial angle may be changed by adjusting the stop screw 24. The vertical adjustment may be effected either by moving the bracket 10 with respect to the base bracket 7 or by moving the plate 14 with respect to the bracket 10, or bydoing both.

It will be understood that the mechanism can be adapted for different sizes of sticks by bodily adjusting the block and the carrier in the manner already set forth.

What I claimvis:

1. The combination with a conveyer chain and a series of transverse sticks carried in part thereby and adapted for supporting festoons of sheet material to be dried, of a device adapted to successively engage the said sticks to rotate them to definite predetermined extents as they are bodily moved by the successive sticks to rotate them as thc said sticks are bodily moved by the chain, and means for changing the length of the frictional engagement between the block and the stick.

3. The combination with a 'onveyer chain and a series of transverse round sticks carried in part thereby and adapted for supporting festoons of sheet material to be dried, of a block of resilient material so located that its bottom surface will frictionally engage the tops of the successive sticks to rotate them as the said sticks are bodily moved by the chain.

4. rflic combination with a conveyor chain and a series of transverse round sticks carried in part thereby and adapted for supporting festoons of sheet material to be dried, of a block of resilient material having its bottom surface inclined downward in the direction of travel of the chain and so located that it will frictionally `engage the tops of the successive sticks to rotate them as the said sticks are bodily moved by the chain, and means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the said bottom surface of the block to change the length of frictional engagement between the block and the stick.

fThe combination with a conveyor chain and a series` of transverse round sticks carried in part thereby and adapted for supporting fee-:toons of sheet n'iaterial to be dried, of a block of resilient material havingr its bottom surface inclined downward in the direction of travel ofthe chain and so located that it will frictionally engage the tops of the successive sticks to rotate them as the said sticks are bodily moved b v the chain, means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the said bottom surface o t the block to change the length of frictional engagement between the block and the stick. and means whereby the said block and the adjusting means therefor may be bodily adjusted vertically.

(l. The con'ibination with a conveyer chain and a series of transverse round sticks carried in part thereby and adapted for supporting festoons of sheet material to he dried. of a block supported near one end for free pivotal movement about a fixed horizontal axis transverse of the chain. the said block being so .located that its bottom surface will fiictionally engage the tops of the successive sticks to rotate them as the said sticks are bodily moved by the chain, and an ad- Uil .ill

instable stop for limiting the downward pivotal movement of the block about the said airis.

't'. 'lhe combination with a conveyor chain and a series of transverse round sticks can ried in part thereby and adapted for supu porting festoons of sheet material to be dried, of tivo parallel normally fixed hori- .rental rods extending transversely of the chain, a member pivotally mounted on one of the rods and having a slot through Which the other rod extends, friction means at the bottoni of the said member adapted to frictionally engage the tops of the successive sticks to rotate them as the said sticks are bodily moved by the chain, and an adjustable screw in the saidmember located to engage the second said rod and to limit the pivotal movement of the member about the first said roth The combination with a conveyor chain and a series of transverse round sticks car-- ried in part thereby and adapted for supportin` festoons of sheet material to be dried, of two parallel normally lined horieontal rods extending transversely of the chain, a vertically adjustable bracket carrying the said rods, a member pivotally mounted on one of the rods and having a slot through which the other rod extends, 'friction means at the bottom of the said iueiifiber adapted to frictionally engage the tops of the successive sticks to rotate them as the said sticks are bodily moved by the chain, and an adjustable screw in the said member located to engage the second said rod and to limit the pivotal movement of the member about the first said rod.

l. Vlhe conibination with a conveyer chain and a series of round sticks adapted for supporting festoons of sheet material to be dried, said sticks benen` of a circular cross section throughout and the curved bottom surface of each stick resting,` on the upper surface of the chain, of a block located above the sticks and held against movement in the direction of movement of the chain with its bottom surface in a position to engage the top curved surface of a stick as it is ad vanced by said chain and so positioned With respect to the upper surface of the chain that the stick will be gripped and consequently rolled between the respective and opposed stick engaging surface of the block and Vthe chain as the chain advances relative to the block.

l0. The combination with a conveyer chain and a series of round sticks adapted for supporting festoons of sheet material to be dried, said sticks beingJ of a circular cross section throughout and the curved bottom surface of each stick resting on the upper surface of the chain, of a resilient block located above the sticks and held against movement in the direction of movement of the chain with its bottom surface in a posiu tion to engage the top curved surface of a stick as it is advanced 4by said chain and so positioned with respect to the upper surface of the chain that the stick Will be gripped and consequently rolled between the respective and opposed stick engaging surface of the block and the chain as the chain advances relative to the block.

ll. The combination with a conveyor chain and a series of round sticks adapted for supporting festoons of sheet material to be dried, said sticks being' of a circular cross section throughout and the curved bottom surface of each stick resting on the upper surface of the chain, of a friction block lo cated above the sticks and held against movement in the direction. of movement of the chain with its bottom surface in a position to engage the top curved surface of a stick as it is advanced by said chain and so positioned with respect to the upper surface of the chain that the stick will be gripped and consequently rolled between the respeetive and opposed stick engaging surface of the block and the chain as the chain advances relative to the block.

l2. The combination with a conveyor chain and a series of round sticks adapted for supporting festoons of sheet material to be dried, said sticks being' of a circular cross section throughout and the curved bottom v surface of each stick restingon the upper surface of the chain, of a resilient friction block located above the sticks and held againstmovement in the direction of movenient of the chain with its bottom surface in a position to engage the top curved surface of a stick as .it is advanced by said chain and so positioned With respect to the upper surface of the chain that the stick will be gripped and consequently rolled betW'een the respective and opposed stick engaging surface of the block and the chain as the chain advances relative to the block.

LYNN B. CASE. 

